SUNRISE WITH A NOTORIOUS LORD By USA Today's Bestselling Author Alexandra Hawkins

 Title: SUNRISE WITH A NOTORIOUS LORD

Series: 4th in The Lord of Vice series
By Alexandra Hawkins
Genre: Regency, Historical, Fiction,Romance, Adult
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed by ChristineRCJR
Format: eBook & Print
On Shelves:  December 27, 2011
Pages: 304


Book Heat: SCORCHER
Read an Excerpt
Order: Amazon and B&N 

Dashing, decadent, and deliciously seductive, the notorious Lords of Vice indulge their every desire—from dusk until dawn…

Christopher Courtland, Earl of Vanewright—known around London as “Vane”—is the very picture of a rich, handsome ladies’ man. Why shackle himself to just one lady when he’s free to sample them all? In spite of his own mother’s attempts at matchmaking, Vane has sworn to stay single. Until he has a chance run-in with Miss Isabel Thorne…

A modest and refined beauty, Isabel is a lot more brazen than she appears. When a pickpocket tries to make away with Vane’s bejeweled snuffbox, Isabel attempts to thwart his escape…and manages to steal Vane’s heart. But the harder he tries to seduce the sharp-tongued, strong-willed Isabel, the more she resists. Now it’s up to this tried-and-true bachelor to find a new way to play the game…or risk losing the one woman who’s ever captured his heart. 

~Review~

An Alexandra Hawkins’ book is a little slice of heaven here on earth.  Hawkins is pure magic that captivates her readers from cover to cover.

There are few authors that make my hands tremble when I finally get one of their books in my hand.  USA Today’s bestselling Author Alexandra has been making my hands tremble with excitement from the moment I held the first Lords of Vice, ALL NIGHTWITH A ROGUE in my hands.  Simply put, I was a goner for Ms. Hawkins’s titillating seductively provocative romance that keeps a reader on the edge of an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end.

On January 3, 2012 the fourth installment, SUNRISEWITH A NOTORIOUS LORD in her beloved series will be released by St. Martins promising to be another staggering romance that leave readers craving for more.  I can only sing praise for Ms. Hawkins and to another fabulous addition to her sensual bad-boys club that readers have come to adore.

Mother knows best.  Christopher Avery Courtland, Earl of Vanewright’s loving but meddling mother, Lady Netherly has been playing matchmaker for the last two years, throwing every available woman in his path left and right.  Every where the Lord of Vice turns there is a woman who is on a mission to ensnare him into marriage.  Do not get Vane wrong, he absolutely adores his elderly mother.  There isn’t a thing in the world he wouldn’t do for his mother, but marriage minded mothers and daughters is where he draws the line.  He understands that with his title a great responsibility comes with it, but he his not ready to give up his debauched ways.  Yes, he has seen three of his Lord of Vice brothers succumbed to the almighty power of love.  Vane believes he will know when the time comes for him to lay down his roguish ways and find a wife of his choosing.  One way or another, Vane will do his mother’s bidding this season, dance with all the eligible ladies, smile and make his mother believe he is doing her bidding without being entangled in all of his mother’s mischief.  But Fate has a way of messing with the best laid plans when he accouters a stubborn blonde haired, brown eyed beauty that instantly makes his heart do a double take.

Miss Isabel Thorne knows nothing but responsibility.  She doesn’t have the time to even think of being reckless.  She leaves that up to her feckless sister Delia and her alcoholic mother who cannot seem to rise from her bed long enough to take care of the house.  After Isabel’s father died in a horrible accident it seemed that the taking care of everyone and finding the means to support the family lay firmly panted on her young shoulders. Imagine, Isabel’s surprise when a missive from the lovely Lady Netherly arrives offering not only her but Delia a season.  There is one condition…or should I say…proposition.  Isabel and Delia head to London.  Isabel agrees to Lady Netherly terms to help convince her son, Vane that Delia would make him a sublime countess.  All the while, Isabel tries to convince the rogue, Isabel finds herself drawn to the magnetic Lord of Vice; knowing that Vane will never be hers, but her sisters.  One thunderous stormy night the two give into their undeniable passion and find a bond that is more potent than anything either has ever experienced. 

After one mind blowing night, Isabel feels guilty while Vane is prepared to give the woman he loves the world.  Until, secrets are exposed and Vane’s faith in Isabel is shattered. Can these two find their way back to one another? Or will their stubborn prides keep them from the one person that completes them in every way.

 Alexandra Hawkins is one of those authors that even before I flip open the book cover I am already in love with her characters.  It is not hard to see why this magnetically creative author has won over legions of fans with her sexy, seductive Lords of Vice series.  Now, she has done it once again with SUNRISE WITH A NOTORIOUS LORD.  I have been waiting with baited breath for Christopher Avery Courtland, Earl of Vanewright from the moment he stepped on the pages of ALL NIGHT WITH A ROGUE.  In fact, I have been completely and unapologetically infatuated with this broad shoulder, dark haired gorgeous sex-god of a man. I was so desperate to know more about this characters and manic for a release date that I could not help but fan-stalk Ms. Hawkins for any and all information about SUNRISE WITH A NOTORIOUS LORD.  Vane lives up to his name.  he is a charmer, gorgeous and devilishly seductive.  From the moment readers meet Vane he has a way of engaging a reader with his hypnotic character.  The draw for me is his relationship with his elderly mother, Lady Netherly.  To understand that you have to look at the way he treats women.  Being a Lord of Vice he has honed his sexual prowess from the time he was a teen.  He loves woman and women love to do anything for Vane.  Thing is, this charismatic charmer has a heart of gold and worships his meddling mother.  Even though he understands and reluctantly puts up with her needling he cannot at time feel a bit frustrated at her full out battle to see her only son settled down.  Truth is, Christopher (vane) adores his mother.  One particular scene where his mother is sobbing he enfolds her in his arms and sooths her worries by stroking her back ensuring her that she has his forgiveness.  I admit, I absolutely adore their relationship.  They are just so wonderful together.  I also, adored his relationship with his teasing his older and younger sisters.  This interaction with his women folks show a deeper side to this Lord of Vice than just what the ton his led to believe.

To explain the relationship between vane and his father is not as complicated as one might think.  The present Marquess of Vanewright is in his early eighties.  He was n his late fifties when Vane was born and already had two sons, one whom he had been schooling to take the title.  Tragedies struck leaving Christopher the heir.  Vane’s father was devoted to his oldest son and when he passed away it seems a part of his father’s heart went with his now deceased son.  Ms. Hawkins’s is such a wonderful writer with her beautiful imagery as she showcases the strained relationship between father and son.  This was an eye-opening scene where Hawkins’s shows the pivotal reason why Vane is so protective of whom he is and what he will do in his life.  This is where readers see how determined he is to live his own life as he chooses…even if that means making his sire a bit uncomfortable in doing so.   I felt for Vane.  It seems even being an Earl and the most sought after Lord of Vice he still feels the needs to prove he is good enough.  Having his marriage minded mother trying to meddle in his prospective marital situation would make any man doubt his sanity.. 

Enter Miss Isabel Thorne.  In a word, she is PERFECT for our devilishly seductive Lord of Vice.  The impact that Isabel has in Vanes world was such a pleasure to watch.  As Vane’s wall tumbled down whenever he was in Isabel’s presence was priceless.  For a girl always in the shadow of her family and her selfish sister Isabel’s voice was powerfully strong.  The way she matched temperament and wits with Vane was pure magic and mad read SUNRISE WITH A NOTORIOUS LORD was beyond a pleasure.

SUNRISE WITH A NOTORIOUS LORD as she takes meddling to a whole new level.  Be prepared to fall hopelessly devoted to one of the most endearing characters I have read so far.  A book does not survive on mercy and goodness alone.  To hinder our hero and heroine Ms. Hawkins’s has devised a few characters that I would have loved to slap.  Isabel’s devious sister, Delia played her part perfectly.  She is selfish and beautiful and believes…since she was raised to believe…that everything and everyone will do her biding. The little digs she gives Isabel will make a readers heart wretch.  I cannot forget Mr. Marcus Ruddel, who plays both sides of the fence, more accurate, sisters.  Add in an alcoholic mother, a dismissed mistress and shake in the rules of Regency and the passion of a rogue and you have one masterful written story bound to entertain readers for hours to come. 

Award-winning Hawkins has once again given readers a wonderful written story, full of surprises in yet another fascinating installment in her Lords of Vice, SUNRISE WITH A NOTORIOUS LORD.  You never know what madness her Lords of Vice will get up to, but her readers are desperate to jump on board and take one sensual ride.  Hawkins spice for bold fleshed out characters add that extra charms that readers have come to expect.  As the plot thickens and  tension builds into overload, you find yourself carried along on one erotic ride you will not want to get off.  Hawkins writes one heck of a story.